Surgical splint



arch 17, 1936.

E. E. LONGFELLOW SURGICAL SPLINT Filed Feb. 24, 1935 W INVENTOR.

jy ATTORNEY,

Patented Mar. 17, 1936 SURGICAL SPLINT Earl E. Longfellow, Warsaw, Ind, assignor to Harry Herschel Leiter, Warsaw, Ind.

Application February 24, 1933, Serial No. 658,353

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in surgical splints of that type wherein provisions are made for supporting an injured leg in an adjusted position and for applying extension thereto while supported by the splint.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a leg rest and an extension appliance associated therewith in connection with a pivotal support for the rest so arranged that the patients body may be conveniently elevated to facilitate use of a bed pan without disturbing the posture of the injured leg supported on the rest, or interference with the extension appliance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a structure embodying a preferred form of the invention as it appears in use; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the forward portion of the tilting frame.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention is constituted of a tilting main frame, an adjustable support for the tilting frame, and a medium for applying traction to an injured leg while disposed upon the tilting frame.

The tilting frame, in a preferable form, consists of like side members I and 2 conveniently made 30 of metal rods shaped at one end with corresponding pendent loops 3 and 4 that terminate with uprights 5 and 6. The side members are held fixedly spaced apart at their forward portions by a cross brace I, at their loops by a cross brace 8,

35 and at the tops of said uprights by a cross brace 9.

The forward end of said main frame is formed preferably of tubes Ill and II that-are connected rigidly together by means of a pendent crossbrace I2 and which are attached respectively to 40 the side members I and 2 by toothed couplings I3 and I4 that are secured in adjusted positions by means of bolts I5 and corresponding thumbnuts I6. In each of the tubes Ill and II are telescopically disposed extension rods I! and I8 that 45 are longitudinally adjustable in said tubes and secured in adjusted positions by set-screws I9. Thus, the main frame is provided with a vertically movable hinged portion thereof at its forward end, the side members of which have in- 50 dividual longitudinally disposed extensions.

A series of slings 2U formed of flexible material, such as canvas, are arranged transversely in the frame and secured by means of suitable straps 2| to the corresponding side members I and 55 2 for the support of an injured leg 22 when superimposed thereon. The endmost sling 23 which is secured to the hinged portion of the frame is pref erably triangular in form so that one side of the hinged portion of the frame to which the apex of the sling 23 is attached is more or less unencumbered by the sling and clearance is thereby afforded to facilitate use of a bed pan.

The adjustable support for the tilting frame consists of a base 24 adapted to be posed flatwise upon a mattress, and is provided with a series of 10 upstanding lugs 25 to which are pivotally attached corresponding struts 26 and 26. The struts are arranged in pairs disposed upon the opposite sides of the frame, and the upper ends of each pair are connected together by a pivot 21 15 that is secured in a pendent lug 28 on the corresponding side member of the frame. One of the struts 26 of each pair is provided with a turn buckle 29 adjustment of which has the effect of elevating or lowering the point of pivotal con- 0 nection 21. By this means the tilting frame may be adjustably raised or lowered as occasion may require.

The medium for applying traction to the injured leg includes a bracket 36 preferably formed 5 with vertically extending rods 3! each of which has a bifurcated foot 32 that is adjustably secured to the corresponding side member by means of set screws 33 so that the bracket may be adjusted longitudinally upon the frame. The upper end of the bracket has mounted therein a sheave 34.

Upon the uprights 5 and 6 is mounted a cross head consisting of tubular side members 35 which are connected together by spaced transverse shafts 35 36 which are spaced apart and upon each of which is mounted a corresponding sheave 3l-38, the cross head being vertically adjustable upon said uprights and secured in adjusted positions thereon by means of set screws 39. 40

The cross brace 9 has secured thereon a rearwardly extending arm M) in which are adjustably disposed threaded rods ll and 42, each having a hook 43 at its lower end and an adjusting nut 44 on its upper end.

Attached to the hook 43 on the rod 4| is a cable 45 which is strung under the sheave 31 and over the sheave 34 beyond which it is connected with a spring scale 46 of a well known type. Connection between the scale 46 and the upper leg 41 of the injured leg is made through the medium of a spreader block 48 and hitch strap 49 applied as in the usual surgical practice.

Attached to the hook 43 on the rod 42 is a cable 50 which is strung under the sheave 28 beyond which it is connected with another spring scale 5|. Connection between the scale 5i and the lower portion 52 of the injured leg is conveniently made through the medium of a spreader block 53, hitch strap 54 and ankle strap 55.

By adjustment of the nuts 44 on the rods 4| and 42 the traction applied to the upper and lower leg portions is adjustably varied.

In use, while the injured leg is secured upon the frame, traction is maintained because of the tension of the spring scales, and the frame including its hinged portion tilts bodily about the axes of the pivots 27 so that upon elevation of the torso of the patient from the bed immobilization of the injured parts of the leg and the traction applied thereto remain undisturbed.

By adjustment of the extension rods I7 and [8 the sling 23 may be snugged beneath the upper leg portion so as to afford substantial support therefor and at the same time facilitates servicing of a bed pan.

By adjustments of the bracket 30 on the side members and the cross head on the uprights the desired angles of traction are readily arranged.

What is claimed is,

A support for a splint, said support consisting of a base, opposite pairs of struts pivotally connected at their respective lower ends at points spaced apart on said base at the corresponding sides thereof, and a pivot member connecting the upper ends of each pair of struts, said members being adapted to have connection with and support solely thereon a splint to have free tilting movement, one of each pair of struts being provided with means for adjusting the length thereof whereby to elevate or lower said pivot members.

EARL E. LONGFELLOW. 

